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16 THE COAL TRADE BULLETIN.
T T
• SOME LABOR NOTES. •
Leaders of the United Mine Workers held a conference
recently with James E. Roderick, chief of
the Pennsylvania bureau of mines. At its con­
clusion the district presidents issued a statement
that the enforcement of tbe new mine law, effective
October 15, requiring boys employed at the
breakers to be 14 years of age and those in the
mines 16 years of age, and calling for an educational
test of all under 21 years of age, had been
discussed. The statement says that Mr. Roder­
ick's decision on the enforcement oi the law meets
with the approval of the mine workers. Neither
the district presidents nor Mr. Roderick would
say wdiat interpretation of the law the latter has
made, but it is believed that both the miners and
the head of the state bureau will not insist upon
a literal construction of the law, especially that
provision making it necessary for all boys under
21 years of age to be familiar witn fundamental
arithmetic to and including fractions. It is estimated
that fully 60 per cent, of the young men
affected by this section would be barred from
work. Some of the coal companies, Mr. Roderick
said, favored discharging all miners not coming
within this provision, but he does not take such a
radical view of the matter.
* * *
President John Mitchell of the miners was in
Pittsburgh October 7, and in a long speech at
Charleroi declared that he is for peace in the coal
industry next year and will do all in his power to
maintain it, but would not outline the campaign
of the organization relative to the anthracite regions
further than to say that the operators get
together and map out their policies and that he is
endeavoring to have the miners of those regions
to do likewise. He hopes for an amicable agreement
in wdiich the organization shall be recognized
and the eight-hour day assented to.
* # *
The miners working for the Canadian-American
Coal & Coke Co. are on strike at Frank, Alta. The
former manager left the company to go to New
Zealand, and a manager named Hill, who took his
place, made changes in the rules to which the
miners objected. They struck. Hill left town,
leaving word that wdien he was wanted he would
return. H. II. Frank, the president of the com­
pany, is also awav, and with no one to settle the
strike no one knows how long it will last. The
piace had not yet recovered from the disastrous
strike of two years ago.
* -i *
Announcement is made that the trouble between
the Morris Run Coal Mining Co. and the miners
has been settled and tbat work has resumed.
More than a year ago the men went on strike because
the company cut the wages. In July an
agreement was reached to return to the scale and
resume work. After a few days the coinpany
announced that it could not pay the wages demanded
by the union and the mines were closed.
The operators at the Altoona conference last
April served notice on the United Mine Workers
of America that by the next scale conference the
miners would have to show every non-union mine
in the district organized or forfeit the right to
an agreement. The union leaders pledged themselves
to do what the employers demanded. The
first signs of the policy have been given in the
tseaverville field.
The governor of Alabama has received a report
on Fiat Top mines, where the convicts are em­
ployed. The report shows that every precaution
is taken to insure the safety and comfort of both
free and convict miners. No convicts are al­
lowed to handle explosives. The only suggestion
the inspector had to make to the mine foreman
was that he faithfully carry out the system now
in operation.
m 'i- m
Grievances arising from a misunderstanding re­
garding conditions about the mine of the National
colliery of the Lackawanna company at Wilkes-
Barre, Pa., have been adjusted b.v a committee of
the mine workers in conference with Col. R. A.
Phillips. Col. Phillips has been very successful
in adjusting all disputes which have arisen with
the men at this colliery.
The fifth annual convention of the United Mine
Workers of the Ninth district (anthracite) adopted
resolutions demanding the eight-hour day and
recognition of the union.
At the Pancoast breaker of the Scranton Coal
Co., in the Pennsylvania anthracite field, the
loaded cars are moved from the cage to the dump
by means of drum and rope. The distance from
the shaft to the dump is about 50 feet. The
empty cars are handled by a chain car-haul; a
friction drum is mounted on the drive-shaft of
this car-haul. A boy, stationed near the dump,
operates the drum. The rope is attached to the
loaded car. wdiich is then given enough motion to
carry it to the dump. This scheme does away
with the services of two men. There is considerable
variation in the running of mine cars, some
running stiffer than others; the arrangement described
permits the handling of all cars equally
well.